Oakland County Sheriff race heats up as November election nears

As the Nov. 6 general election creeps closer, tensions between candidates are likely to heat up.

That seems to be exactly the case in the race for Oakland County Sheriff.

Jane Felice Boudreau, Sheriff Michael Bouchard's opponent, made several public allegations at a recent Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting.

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Among other things, Boudreau made claims that a contract bid Oakland County awarded to food services company Aramark raised questions about contracting practices in the Sheriff's Office.

Boudreau was fired from the Oakland County Sheriff's office on accusations of misconduct in 2006. Soon after, she filed a sex discrimination and slander lawsuit against Bouchard and the county. She has run against the sheriff in the past.

Bouchard has been sheriff since 1999, when he was appointed, succeeding the late John F. Nichols, and then was elected to the post in 2000. He has held the position since, being re-elected in 2004 and again in 2008.

In 2008, the executive board of the Oakland County deputies union elected to endorse Boudreau in a 5-to-1 vote, according to Gary McClure, then-president of the 750-member union.

However, the vote this year was unanimous to endorse Bouchard, said Bill Christensen, current deputies union president.

At the board of commissioners meeting, Boudreau said Bouchard had a campaign staffer named Robert Kennedy, who is also a lobbyist for Aramark, which has the contract for food services for the Oakland County Jail.

Boudreau said it was strange that Aramark, with Bouchard campaign treasurer Kennedy lobbying for it, beat out several other companies for 12 years -- the length of time Aramark has held the contract -- when its pricing was above market price.

Boudreau was hoping to have the Board of Commissioners and the audience of the meeting warrant her claim that Bouchard was making money -- or his employees were -- on a conflict-of-interest contract between the county and Aramark, which has offices in Pontiac and Troy, among other locations.

Lorrie Van Pelt, director of management and budget, responded to those comments when she got a turn to speak. She said she wanted to make very clear that the policies and procedures established by the Board of Commissioners were followed in all respects.

Van Pelt said that she has personally investigated and reviewed the Aramark contract and found that there were no improprieties and no political influence.

"It is quite simple," said Van Pelt. "It all came down to (a better) price."

Aramark will save the county $1.4 million during a five-year period, over and above the next provider's bid, Van Pelt said.

Referring to the whole issue and the election race, he said, "Neither the sheriff nor I were involved in the bidding process (for Aramark). It's obvious she's doing this for political purposes."

McCabe said that if anyone wanted hard evidence that the Robert Kennedy issue doesn't relate to Bouchard's cause, they should know the company Kennedy currently lobbies for didn't win a recent bid for medical care for Oakland County Jail inmates.

During the board meeting, Boudreau also noted the complaint filed by the Michigan Democratic Party that accused the Bouchard campaign of violating the Michigan Campaign Finance Act during this year's race and in 2010.

Boudreau said Bouchard has taken excessive contributions, referencing the maximum amount that a candidate is legally allowed to accept from an individual, which is $3,400.

McCabe, quoting from a letter detailing the results of an audit done by the Secretary of State dated March 30, said: "No material issue has come to our attention in documentation reviewed that indicates there is a non-compliance with requirements of this (Michigan Campaign Finance) act."

The letter, said McCabe, was addressed to the Mike Bouchard for Governor PAC. The letter also stated that the committee has since been dissolved and no further filings concerning it were necessary.

Said McCabe: "She doesn't deserve to wear a badge or a uniform; her record clearly speaks for itself," referencing Boudreau's history with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, from which she was fired. He added that Boudreau was fired from the former Pontiac Police Department and a local private security firm.

McCabe said the complaint was nothing but a political attack against the incumbent sheriff, and that Boudreau had to pay to even get her name on this year's ballot.

Boudreau had to shell out $460 to cover a fine in May to get her name included on the ballot this year, said Joe Rozell, Oakland County director of elections.

"If she would've filed for sheriff still owing the county money, it would've been a felony," Rozell said.

Further, Frank Houston of the Oakland County Democratic Party issued a public request for county Clerk Bill Bullard to launch an investigation into the allegations brought to public attention by Boudreau.

Ted Prill, Bouchard's general consultant: "This is just another case of last ditch political mudslinging in an election year complaining about an election filing over two years old just weeks before an election. The Bouchard campaign not only met the disclosure requirements in 2010, but also already went through a mandatory and intensive audit after it concluded."

County Clerk Bill Bullard is aware that the complaint has already been filed with the Secretary of State's Office.

"Michigan law is very clear that the power of investigation into campaign finance complaints falls with the Secretary of State. If Mr. Houston has specific information he wishes to be investigated he should follow up with the Bureau of Elections. If he feels any county or local laws are in question he should direct his concerns to the Oakland County Prosecutor who has investigative and law enforcement powers in these areas. The County Clerk does not," said Bullard. "I am confident Secretary Johnson and her team are more than capable of looking into these concerns. We will cooperate in any way they would see fit."